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Cal Co-Hosts Lake Natoma Invitational This Weekend

This WeekCalifornia will co-host the first Lake Natoma Invitational with Sacramento State this Saturday and Sunday, April 18 and 19, at Lake Natoma in Gold River, Calif. The regatta boasts a strong, nine-team field, including five schools with nationally ranked varsity 8+ boats. The results from the Lake Natoma Invitational could go a long way in helping teams earn selection to the NCAA Rowing Championships, considering the number of quality, complete teams from the West, Central and South Regions. This weekend's field includes the co-host Hornets, the Golden Bears and their third-ranked varsity 8+, Stanford, which boasts the No. 2 varsity 8+, Wisconsin, with the 16th-ranked varsity 8+, UCLA, with the No. 19 varsity 8+, Minnesota, with the 20th-ranked varsity 8+, Tennessee, Texas and Central Florida.

'A few of us have been tossing around the idea for this regatta for a couple of years, and I'm really glad it's coming together,' Cal head coach Dave O'Neill said. 'We have nine great teams coming from across the country, and I'm very much looking forward to the weekend.'

The nine teams were seeded, and this determined the racing for the two Saturday sessions. Teams will accrue points throughout the day using the NCAA point structure. Saturday's total points will determine the lineups for the finals on Sunday. (A final 1-3, B final 4-6, C final 7-9) The novice events do not accrue points.

The complete schedule for the Lake Natoma Invitational will be posted and linked to this release on Thursday, April 16.

Bears Ride Successful Start into Lake NatomaCal won 10 of 11 races at the Pac-10 Challenge to open the collegiate season March 28-29 in Redwood Shores, Calif. The Bears also scrimmaged UC Davis on April 11 in West Sacramento, Calif.

Cal's then-fifth-ranked varsity 8+, which included senior co-captains Lou Kinder and Lauren Nowinski, won its three races against Virginia, Clemson and Ohio State in the Pac-10 Challenge. The Bears topped Virginia, 6:26.6-6:35.1, and Clemson, 6:49.0-6:52.0, on the first day of the regatta and beat the 12th-ranked Buckeyes, 6:39.9-6:55.0, on the second day.

The Bears' only setback was with the second varsity 8+, which defeated its Clemson and Ohio State counterparts but lost to the UVa second varsity 8+. Cal's varsity 4+ defeated all three schools, while the novice 8+ won its two races.

'We've had some great training since the Pac-10 Challenge, and I'm pleased with where we are,' Dave O'Neill said. 'Of course, there are a number of areas for improvement. A few athletes have returned from different injuries, so it's great to be at full strength.'

Next WeekCal races Washington and the Huskies' seventh-ranked varsity 8+ on April 25 on Montlake Cut in Seattle.